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Charleston Plantations

April 18, 2012 by

charleston plantationNo visit to Charleston, South Carolina, is complete without a stop at one of the area’s striking historical plantations. These immaculately preserved sites allow visitors to take a step back in time and soak up the atmosphere of the Old South.

Next time you’re in town to visit the Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction, we recommend stopping by one of these three beauties.

Middleton Place

No matter what time of year you visit Middleton Place, you’ll find 65 acres of stunning gardens in bloom. A National Historic Landmark, Middleton Place offers a glimpse into the plantation life that dominated pre-Civil War South Carolina.

Visitors of all tastes will find something to love at Middleton Place, which includes extensive landscaped gardens, a preserved plantation mansion, and rejuvenated stable yards, where actors perform the tasks that African slaves would have done in the 18th century.

Plan your trip to Middleton Place!

Boone Hall Plantation

Famous for the double line of oak trees (planted in 1743!) that line its driveway, Boone Hall Plantation provides educational tours as well as an opportunity to participate first-hand in plantation life. For 320 years, Boone Hall has been a living, producing plantation.

In the 1800s, Boone Hall produced cotton and pecans, but today its crops include strawberries, pumpkins, tomatoes, and other fruits and vegetables. Visitors can pick their own harvests in special fields after learning about the life of those who lived in the Boone Hall house and on the plantation hundreds of years ago.

Plan your visit to Boone Hall!

Magnolia Plantation

Home of the oldest public gardens in the United States, Magnolia Plantation opened its doors to the public in 1870, nearly 200 years after its founding in 1676. In 2010, Magnolia Plantation won a prestigious Heritage Tourism Award for its efforts at interpretively recreating and presenting slave cabins to visitors.

Visitors can enjoy boat tours, a petting zoo, tours of the gardens and house, and a leisurely stop at the plantation’s Peacock Café. The self-guided walking tour of the Swamp Garden is especially popular among tourists, and is open 365 days per year.

Plan your trip to Magnolia Plantation!

 

 

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The Best Tours of Charleston

March 21, 2012 by

Charleston ToursCharleston, South Carolina, is commonly cited as one of the nation’s most historical cities. Many of our patients who come for breast reconstruction surgery stay long enough to enjoy the eclectic sights Charleston has to offer.

The next time you’re in town, consider making time to visit one of these excellent Charleston tours.

Historic Charleston Tour

Founded in 1670, Charleston boasts more than three centuries of fascinating history. Join the historic tour to learn about Charleston’s role in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, as well as the natural disasters that the city has withstood through the years. Your licensed tour guide will draw your attention to more than 100 points of interest. Hotel pick-up and drop-off service may be available.

Old Charleston Walking Ghost Tour

Keep your mind sharp and your body healthy with a walking tour of Charleston’s most haunted places. Tour guide Mike Brown offers more than a decade’s worth of research about the city’s spookiest alleys, graveyards, and other locations. Offered at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. daily, these tours are sure to get your heart thumping and can act as either a main attraction or the opening for an exciting night on the town.

Historic Harbor Boat Tour of Charleston

Relax aboard a boat for a nonstop tour from the water. During your 90-minute sea adventure, you’ll learn about the historically significant Charleston Harbor and get to view three major forts (Moultrie, Sumter, and Johnson). The tour also includes views of Charleston’s best-known landmarks, including St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. If you keep your eyes on the water, you may even spot dolphins, pelicans, or other Low Country sea life.

Gone with the Wind City & Mansion Tour

Relive the beauty and drama of Margaret Mitchell’s iconic novel on Charleston’s Gone with the Wind City & Mansion Tour. You’ll see the French Quarter, the Market, Old Citadel, and the Rainbow Row of homes in pastel colors. The tour concludes inside the historic Manigault House, complete with antique furniture and architecture.

 

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Where to Go for the Best Sushi in the Low Country

March 14, 2012 by

Best SushiWhen nothing will do but sushi, South Carolina’s Low Country has plenty to offer your palate. Here’s a guide for anyone in search of great Japanese cuisine in the greater Charleston area.

Wasabi of Charleston

Please a crowd at Wasabi of Charleston, which offers sushi and hibachi dinners, plus an extensive drink menu (including plenty of sake choices!). In addition to classic Japanese cuisine prepared by professionally trained chefs, Wasabi boasts an exciting nightlife and hosts special events including birthdays and anniversaries. Open for lunch (11:30 to 3:00) and dinner.

O-Ku Sushi

This upscale sushi hotspot was cited by Esquire magazine as one of the country’s 20 Best New Restaurants in 2010. So far, its finely prepared entrees and small plates have lived up to the hype. With locally sourced ingredients, a sleek interior design, and an assortment of hand-crafted cocktails, O-Ku’s unique take on Japanese favorites provides something for everyone to love. Open for lunch (11:30 to 2:00) and dinner.

Bambu

In addition to its unique cocktails and hand-rolled sushi, Bambu boasts an outdoor patio and live music every weekend night during the summer. Locals and visitors alike enjoy the Charleston-influenced Japanese and Thai dishes, the quirky décor, and the community-style tables (private booths are available too!). Bambu further distinguishes itself from other sushi haunts in town by offering diners a glimpse into the sushi-rolling process, which they can observe via a webcam stationed in the kitchen. Open at 5:00 p.m. daily.

Tsunami

Tsunami’s four locations and extensive menu (which includes hibachi, sushi, and other traditional Japanese fare) make this an ideal site for a night out, no matter what crowd you’re with. The restaurant makes a special effort to accommodate those with food allergies and special diets, making this restaurant the place to go for those with food restrictions. Open for dinner daily.

 

 

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Top 5 Spas in Charleston

March 7, 2012 by

Charleston SpasIf you’re in Charleston for a consultation or breast reconstruction surgery, we recommend the following spas for a bit of pampering or relaxation.

The Spa at Charleston Place

With its beautiful views and airy rooms, The Spa at Charleston Place is one of our favorites. The massage therapy options themselves are incredible: Swedish, deep tissue, warm stone, reflexology, and Moroccan oil. Skin care treatments include a decadent 24-karat gold facial and a diamond facial. Peppermint rosemary body scrubs, spa manis and pedis, and yin and yang classes are only a few of the dozens of possibilities for pampering.

Treatments for men and children are available, and if you stay at the hotel, you have use of the state-of-the-art health club with salt-water pool and Jacuzzi.

Stella Nova

Stella Nova takes facials to the next level with their Rx Infusion facial, which provides results fast with medical-grade ingredients that reduce rosacea and fine lines. This facial includes a penetrating serum and soothing mask. The Micro Mini Peel helps combat aging and firms the skin, while the Purifying Complexion facial reduces blemishes and deep cleans pores. The Cure Carboxi-Express and O2 Awakening infuse pores with oxygen to detoxify the skin.

Full-body treatments include a head-to-toe massage and salt scrub, a lavender-scented body wrap, African Red Tea Body Cocktail, and a sweet, luxurious sugar scrub. If you’re visiting with friends, book the VIP Spa Suite to enjoy the butler service and choice of delicious food and drink while you’re being pampered.

Simply Your Spa

An intimate day spa and yoga studio, Simply Your Spa offers a variety of packages that give you the best of the best in spa services. The Simply Your Sampler includes a Swedish massage, Quick Results Facial, Express Manicure, and Express Pedicure. For the ultimate in spa, The Pleasure Seeker Package offers a Swedish massage, Herbology Body Treatment, Simply Your Signature Facial, and Sea Spa Manicure and Pedicure. The Ultimate Feet Treat Package pampers your feet with a shea butter reflexology foot massage, followed by a Sea Spa Pedicure.

Simply Your Spa also offers lash and brow tinting, spray tan, and yoga and Zumba classes, as well as professional skin care, makeup, and doggie bath products for sale. Men’s and couples’ packages are available, and Simply Your Spa caters to brides, grooms, and groups.

Urban Nirvana

With an invitation to come into your own, Urban Nirvana is a day spa with a difference: their treatments use luxurious products rarely seen anywhere else. In addition to prenatal and hot stone massages, they offer a spectacular hand and foot massage, a scalp and full-body massage with citrus extracts, a paraffin massage, a warm rubdown, and an aromatherapy massage with your choice of intoxicating scents such as oolong and mandarin.

Urban Nirvana’s reclined-seating hydrotherapy tub and seven-head Vichy Shower offer unsurpassed luxury and relaxation. Body treatments such as a seaweed detox, a coffee body mask, and cocoa shea-butter wrap are treats for the body, mind, and soul. A full-service salon provides hair care and waxing by seasoned professionals.

Seeking Indigo

Integrating holistic wellness and lifestyle, Seeking Indigo has a yoga studio, Pilates center, organic café, and detox center that offer biofeedback, yoga, massage, organic facials, and Ayurvedic treatments. In addition to reiki and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, the spa has unique treatments not seen anywhere else. The Charleston Hyperbaric Chamber delivers oxygen to the body at the cellular level and allows the body to heal itself. Seeking Indigo’s far infrared sauna heats you from the inside out, reducing blood pressure and detoxifying the body.

The spa also offers fashion from local designers ranging from vintage to modern, jewelry of all types, books, music, art, and exotic treasures for sale.

Which spas appeal to you, and why?

 

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The Perfect Rainy Day in Charleston: What to Do for Fun

February 8, 2012 by

Charleston is one of those places that has so much to do and see that you can have fun even on a rainy day. From the South Carolina Aquarium to the Charleston City Market, here are our favorite dreary day activities.

South Carolina Aquarium

With a daily dive show and exhibits galore, the South Carolina Aquarium is the perfect rainy day activity for all ages. The exhibits take you from the mountains to the sea, and the first one you’ll see, the mountain forest exhibit, features majestic eagles and playful otters frolicking in the hilly forest. You’ll see the flora and fauna in the piedmont, coastal plain, and salt marsh areas before you hit the coast and ocean to have close encounters with sharks and pufferfish.

The Touch Tank allows you to see and touch water creatures such as stingrays and sea urchins. In February, the Aquarium will hold a birdhouse building workshop and a Love under the Sea Valentine’s Day dinner.

Tour the Yorktown

The focal point of the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum is the World War II aircraft carrier USS Yorktown. The museum is home to a fleet of National Historic Landmark ships and the Cold War Memorial. Patriots Point also houses the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and Medal of Honor Museum.

Aboard the Yorktown, you can tour the flight deck and bridge, living quarters, brig, and engine room. The Charleston Navy Shipyard Museum and Medal of Honor Museum are on board, and individual memorials are scattered around the ship. The hangar bay holds vintage aircraft, and if you’d like to try flying yourself, you’ll want to try the flight simulator.

Kiln Time

If you’re artistically inclined and would like to paint your own pottery—or your kids would—Kiln Time is a great way to spend a rainy afternoon. You’ll find a large collection of pottery that you can decorate or paint, and then Kiln Time will fire them and have them ready in just a few days. What a fun way to spend some family time!

Historical Charleston City Market

The Charleston City Market has been part of Charleston’s history for over two centuries. The majestic Market Hall building houses the Daughters of the Confederacy museum. Grab your umbrella and head to this amazing open-air market that sells everything from jewelry to food to sweetgrass baskets. With over 100 vendors, the market has something for everyone, and is the perfect place to have a coffee and watch people. Take a carriage ride, relax, and enjoy Charleston.

Do you have any suggestions for a perfect way to spend a rainy day in Charleston?

 

 

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Top 3 Holiday Related Activities to Enjoy in Charleston

December 21, 2011 by
festival of lightsImage to the left taken from the Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission website.

 

Charleston comes alive during the holidays, and enchanting activities for all ages abound. Here are just a few of the festive holiday celebrations to enjoy right now.

Holiday Festival of Lights
James Island County Park, November 10, 2011–January 1, 2012

With over 2 million lights, the Holiday Festival of Lights is a must-see event. Set up as a 3-mile driving tour or a fun-filled train ride, the Festival of Lights also offers several activities besides twinkling lights, such as marshmallow roasts, gift shops, carousel rides, life-size greeting cards, and a tree lighting.

The driving tour is $12 per car, and the train ride is $3 per person. Children under 2 are admitted free.

Charleston Christmas Sleigh Ride 2011
Charleston Harbor, December 1–31, 2011

Every night in December excluding Christmas, Thriller Charleston hosts sleigh rides by boat to look at the Christmas lights and decorations. You’ll depart from Shem Creek in Mt. Pleasant and see the sights in Charleston, James Island, and Mt. Pleasant. As you drink hot cocoa, you’ll hear charming stories of Charleston’s Christmas customs. You keep your travel mug and rain poncho.

Sleigh rides are $45 for adults and $35 for children ages 5–12. Children under 5 are admitted free, but do not receive the hot chocolate or rain poncho.

What’s your favorite Charleston holiday tradition?

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Enjoying the Glorious Outdoors of Charleston: Best Parks in Charleston County

November 23, 2011 by

charleston county parksCharleston County parks offer some of the best scenery, activities, and fishing in the area. With water parks, dog parks, play areas, and campgrounds, the opportunities for quality family time are limitless. The following parks are three of our favorites.

James Island County Park:

A short drive from downtown Charleston, the James Island County Park is open year-round, with something for everyone. Kids love the Splash Zone Waterpark, while adults enjoy the Climbing Wall and boat and bicycle rentals. With over 100 sites and 10 cottages, the Campground offers peace and quiet among the beauty of the park, and anglers will find plenty of opportunity for crabbing and saltwater fishing. Dogs and their owners enjoy the freedom and open space of the off-leash dog park.

The park’s location also makes it ideal for events such as concerts and festivals. Highlights include the Reggae Nights Summer Concert Series, the Lowcountry Cajun Festival, and the Holiday Festival of Lights.

Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands Park:

With its tropical beauty and lush nature trails, Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands Park is almost like a trip to Hawaii. Ideally suited for groups and families, this 943-acre park was designed around nature and its splendor, and the peaceful tranquility of Nature Island is well worth the price of admission.

In addition to the island, visitors can ascend to the top of the 50-foot observation tower and take in the spectacular view while the kids enjoy themselves in the tower’s play area. With Splash Island Waterpark, nature trails, tidal creek fishing and crabbing, boat rentals, and volleyball courts and horseshoe pits, the park offers hours of fun and excitement.

Mount Pleasant Pier:

Over 1250 feet long, the Mount Pleasant Pier gives visitors an amazing view of Charleston Harbor and the Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge. Kids and adults alike enjoy fishing off the pier, and the Cooper River Challenge fishing tournament takes place several times during the summer and fall. Prizes are awarded for largest game fish catch in several categories. Rods and tackle are available at the Pier, and after the tournament, you can grab a bite at the River Watch Café and Gift Shop.

Throughout the summer, the Pier shows classic movies at sundown, and admission is free. Spring and summer are the time for Shaggin’ on the Pier, the perfect opportunity to dance the night away to live music.

All of Charleston County’s parks offer amazing views of the beauty of the Lowcountry. Which park is your favorite and why?

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Hearts for the Arts Foundation: Helping the Creative Children of the Lowcountry

November 9, 2011 by

hearts for the arts foundationToday’s post is very dear to me. I’ve interviewed Morgan Downing of the Hearts for the Arts Foundation, an amazing initiative, based in the Charleston area of South Carolina, that works to financially and emotionally support artistic children.

See below for the interview and learn how you can help the Hearts for the Arts Foundation and cause:

1. Tell us a little bit about Hearts for the Arts. Specifically, who are the leaders and founders behind it, and what is the foundation’s mission?

The Hearts for the Arts Foundation was established by Kelly James, Jared James, Shelly Downing, and myself, Morgan Downing. We have set out to fund one of the most attacked activities offered by public schools: the Arts. From ballet to creative writing, we support any form of expression.

2. What was the inspiration behind starting the Hearts for the Arts initiative? In other words, what moved you to start this project?

Kelly James, one of the founders, teaches at an arts-infused school. The money for the programs runs on grants, state money, and donations. However, in the recent economic crisis, the state sees their programs like “finger painting” if you will. Thus, the funding is cut short—yet AGAIN. I, Morgan Downing, am an avid representative for the vitality of the arts in children’s growth and development. We knew there was a need so we all found a solution, the Hearts for the Arts Foundation.

3. The Hearts for the Arts foundation is in direct affiliation with The Art Closet Thrift Store, which is opening soon on Dorchester Rd. in Charleston. What types of things can individuals purchase from The Art Closet Thrift Store, and how does their contribution support the Hearts for the Arts initiative?

The Art Closet Thrift Store is currently the blood and life of our foundation. 80-85% of the money made from our store is directly given to the foundation. We have absolutely fabulous items of all variations there. We have seasonal items, clothing, furniture, books, house ware, jewelry, and much more! However, we must have support from the community to keep this wonderful organization up and running.

4. How can individuals become involved with the Hearts for the Arts foundation and support its cause?

For anyone who has fallen in love with our cause, here are some ways to help:

  • Bring your donations to us! We need all that we can get.
  • If you or the company you work for would like to give, they can. We take monetary donations as well.
  • VOLUNTEER!!!
  • Spread the word and tell EVERYONE. Word of mouth is the best form of advertisement!

If anyone has questions or would like to donate, you can contact us at 843.460.0001 or 843.789.5544. Our e-mail is hearts4thearts@ymail.com.

Thank you for being a part of “The key to a creative education.”

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Top 5 Yoga Studios in Charleston

October 12, 2011 by

charleston yogaYoga is one of the most effective ways to develop a mind-body connection and improve health and flexibility. Following are five of the top yoga studios in the Charleston area.

Charleston Power Yoga: www.charlestonpoweryoga.com

A Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga affiliate studio, Charleston Power Yoga promises to provide a “challenging, dynamic combination of strength, sweat, and flexibility sure to push you to your edge, yet accessible to all body types.”

In addition to an amazing yoga experience, Charleston Power Yoga offers a unique boutique with One of a Kind Yoga Bags from The Rose Knot and handmade jewelry from yogi Stella Maris. Yoga gear includes Manduka mats and Yogitoes.

Bikram Yoga Charleston: www.bikramcharleston.com

With two locations in downtown Charleston and Mt. Pleasant, Bikram Yoga offers hot yoga for all levels and abilities. Bikram yoga consists of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises and works every muscle in your body.

Many clients say they feel more positive and have strengthened their bodies and calmed their minds. Others say yoga has helped them lost weight and change their spirit and soul. Between the two studios, over 50 classes a week are available.

Daniel Island Yoga: www.danielislandyoga.com

Diane Zalka’s YogaFit® and Sadhana Yoga Chi holistic style flow in her sessions, which according to the website “strive to create holistic balance, personal growth, and harmony by focusing on flexibility, strength, balance, breath, body awareness, alignment, relaxation, healing the body, calming the mind, and lifting the spirit.”

Zalka, a retired teacher and Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher, believes yoga is for everyone and offers a range of classes at Pierce Park Pavilion, Daniel Island Park Club, and The Field House. Sessions include YogaFit for Kids, Sunrise Yoga, and Restorative Therapeutic Yoga.

Holy Cow Yoga and Artistic Center: www.holycowyoga.com

Holy Cow Yoga has been a fixture in the Charleston area for 12 years and offers a variety of yoga classes including Vinyasa flow, gentle-restorative, yin, children’s, and prenatal. These classes range from challenging to relaxing, and the environment is supportive and dynamic.

Workshops offered include Hip Helper with Steven Willard, Meditation Immersion with Trace Sahaja Bonner, Yoga and the Pelvic Floor with Leslie Howard, and Food for Life with Ayla Sarnoff. Holy Cow Yoga’s Om Store features organic yoga clothes, Kulae eco mats, and eye pillows.

Serenity Now Yoga: www.serenitynowyoga.net

Located near Mt. Pleasant, Sullivan’s Island, Isle of Palms, and downtown Charleston, Serenity Now Yoga focuses on not only yoga, but also offers free meditation instruction and special workshops and events. Their philosophy is that yoga should be accessible to anyone, no matter the fitness level or the age, and their mission is to serve all students who wish to develop a yoga practice.

The instructors at Serenity Now recognize the spiritual component of yoga and are careful to respect that everyone has a different spiritual path. While every session includes the traditional aspects of yoga such as yama, niyama, and pranayama, every instructor leaves room for students to include them in their practice as they wish.

Come visit us on Facebook to join the conversation!

 

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4 Must-Try Outdoor Activities

August 1, 2011 by

outdoor fitnessExercise can be a dirty word, so we prefer to talk about being active. When you’re active, you’re doing things you enjoy, so it doesn’t feel like a chore. During the summer, you have a wide range of outdoor options to have fun, keep your weight down, elevate your mood, and get some fresh air. We’ve discovered a few outdoor activities you might like to try . . .

Kayaking

A highly enjoyable water sport, kayaking is similar to canoeing, but a kayak typically has a closed deck. The kayaker sits with legs in front and uses a double-bladed paddle. Any body of water, from a river to an ocean, is suitable for kayaking. If you like excitement, kayaking down swift-moving rivers, waterfalls, and rapids—also known as whitewater kayaking—is for you.

Kayaking works most of the muscles of the body, especially the torso and arms. You can certainly purchase everything you need to kayak, but kayaking companies will also outfit you on a rental basis.

Surfing

Another water sport, surfing has always been synonymous with ocean waves, but it can be done anywhere waves occur, such as lakes or rivers. The surfer rides a surfboard, a 5-foot or longer flat platform, and maneuvers the board toward a wave hoping it will carry him or her forward, called catching the wave. Once the surfer has caught the wave, he or she stands up on the board to ride the wave. Surfing takes patience and practice.

Surfing works all the major muscle groups, especially the muscles of your upper body while catching the wave, and the muscles of your core, legs, and buttocks while riding the wave. The only equipment you need is a surfboard, which may be purchased or rented.

Paddleboarding

Similar to surfing, paddleboarders ride a board, but instead of catching waves far from shore, the rider stays nearer to shore, sits or kneels on the board, and uses a swimming motion or an oar to move the board. Variations including paddle surfing and doing yoga on the paddleboard make this sport fun and accessible for almost anyone.

Like kayaking and surfing, paddleboarding is a full-body workout and is an excellent cardiovascular activity. Paddleboards tend to be longer than most surfboards, up to 15 feet or more, and can be purchased or rented.

Hiking

For those who prefer dry land or exploring, hiking offers a fun way to stay active and see the outdoors. Most serious hikers are environmentally conscious, and they walk trails in mountainous or hilly areas. Hikers receive a double benefit: exhilarating activity and incredible views. Many people get away from the hustle and bustle of their lives by hiking, and they enjoy the peace of being one with nature.

Hiking works most major muscle groups, and the higher hikers climb, the better workout they get. Equipment is simple: good hiking boots, thick socks, protective clothing, and a backpack stocked with food, water, a compass, and a map of the area. If the hike is going to be longer than a few hours or in areas without trails, the hikers should have other essentials such as a knife, fire starter, flashlight, and GPS device.

Have you tried any of these activities, and did you enjoy them? Any tips for the rest of us?

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